Home Town

At its April 7 meeting, Hardy’s Advertising and Promotions Commission discussed a town hall meeting it planned to hold on April 14 at the Old Hardy Gym. The meeting was designed to discuss how A and P funds have been spent in the past and detail its plan to get more bang for the buck as it promotes the town as a tourist attraction. The Brooks Jeffrey Marketing firm was present to discuss the long term marketing strategy that it developed.

Discovery Channel is headed deep in the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas.

The network has greenlighted a new series, titled Clash of the Ozarks, that’s set to premiere Feb. 25 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

The six-part show is set in the town of Hardy, which is described as something right out of the Wild West. According to Discovery, “This lack of progression has turned Hardy into a land where emotions and territory conflicts outweigh a law-abiding society as the townspeople fight to protect what is theirs.” There, two local families are locked in a feud that dates back many generations.

Fredamae Gamblin, of Hardy, was announced as the 2013 recipient of the E. Wilson Green award, which recognizes a community member known for giving their time to make the community a better place to live. Gamblin has long been involved in local service organizations, serving on the Main Street Hardy Board of Directors, the Hardy Garden Club, the County Ladies Home Extension group and the Ladies of the Elks. Gamblin also volunteers to staff the Chamber office during vacations and other days as needed. She has also assisted in the gathering and distribution of the 600 Christmas packets given to students at the Cherokee Village Elementary school.

We are excited to finally see a beautiful new “official website” that has just been launched by the Hardy A&P Commission.

As stated by the A&P, “The new website, www.VisitHardyArkansas.com, provides the cornerstone for the integrated marketing strategy implemented by the Hardy Advertising & Promotion Commission to increase tourism. The focus is to promote four main interest areas: Spring River, Artisans, Cultural Heritage and Music.”

Be sure to bookmark that site and check it out today, and make Hardy, Arkansas your tourist stop!

The Ozark Visual Art showcase took place today on Saturday, October 19, 2013, it lasted from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. Those who attended this wonderful free display had the opportunity to see some wonderful local works of art form area artist.

This was the Fourth show and sale at the old gymnasium in downtown Hardy, Ar. Items that were on display as well as for sale included beautiful glass art, jewelry, paintings, gourd art, photography, pottery and more were viewable.

Additionally, art demonstrations took place throughout the day up on the stage as well. Our area has some wonderful artist and we look forward to the next Art Show.

The tradition will continue as scheduled on Halloween in Hardy, Arkansas! The location from the Hardy gym will change to down on Historic Main Street. Merchants and private citizens are invited to set up their Spook-tacular displays to the delight of everyone.

It’s easy to participate, just bring your car and your kids and treats on Main Street for a fun filled night.

Park your car, open and decorate your trunk, and sit on your lawn chairs while you watch your child trick or treat from car to car, while you hand out candy to those visiting your car!

“We are ready to shop.” This was the consensus among the large group of primarily women who visited Hardy from several of the States Department of Parks and Tourism Visitor Centers offices on a familiarization tour hosted by the Ozarks Gateway Tourist Council. The group was welcomed Sept. 26 at the Old Stonehouse Bed and Breakfast in Hardy before hitting the streets to enjoy the local shops. The event was held last week and was sponsored by the Ozarks Gateway Tourism Council.

Adam Davis, President of the Ozarks Gateway Tourist Council led the group to the welcome reception from Mammoth Spring.

After months of planning and work, the Spring River Paramedic and Ambulance Service and the city of Hardy have finally accomplished a long time goal — setting up an ambulance base in Hardy to be able to respond more quickly to emergencies. The ambulance station, originally based in Ozark Acres, has moved to its new Hardy location two doors down from city hall.

The ambulance service is sharing a building with the Hardy Fire Department. The ambulance space includes garage space for two ambulances, an office, common room downstairs, two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.

A locally produced and recorded television show highlighting Spring River and the surrounding area will begin airing in three major markets beginning June 8.

Spring River Scene and show sponsor, FNBC, will host the first viewing of this innovative show on Thursday, June 6, at 10:00 a.m .at the FNBC Ash Flat main branch. Created by longtime entertainment professional Doug Deforest, Spring River Scene is a light-hearted information-filled 30-minute look at the entertainment, people, businesses and places that make up the vibrant landscape of the Spring River area. With co-host and newcomer Jamie Allyn, this talk show format program was filmed inside the showroom of Forschler Home Center in Ash Flat, in front of a live studio audience. It will be aired in three major markets beginning June 8 and 9: Little Rock station KASN at 6 a.m. Saturdays, Memphis, Tenn., station WPTY at 2:30 a.m. Sundays, and Springfield station KOZL at 6:30 a.m. Sundays.

Main Street of Hardy, the non-profit group which works to preserve and promote historic Main Street, has acquired the Biggers building on the northeast corner of Spring and Main Streets. The building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Buildings.

Main Street Secretary/Treasurer Marcia Weaver said, “This is going to be our Main Street of Hardy headquarters. The plan is to utilize the beautiful upstairs for our offices, and open the main level for a community event center, so other organizations can hold their meetings, conferences or other events here.” The building will allow Main Street of Hardy to begin a Bingo Night it has been planning. “Eventually, we want to put a kitchen in as well. There are already remnants of a kitchen, and we plan to use it for concessions,” Weaver said.